Middleware can mitigate healthcare IT interoperability issues but can also create major security problems, according to an article on the Health Data Management website.
In a healthcare IT environment, middleware is used to connect existing software, such as EHRs, with enterprise applications or web services, so that the EHR systems can securely communicate.
However, middleware tools can pose security risks because any time different systems are permitted to communicate with each other, possible security vulnerabilities arise.
Middleware can create a secondary path for malware, thus opening the door for hackers to access both EHR applications and patient data.
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